Press / Prensa

Over 200 Latino Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
Advocates Head to Houston

2nd Annual Latino Institute held at the largest
LGBT Organizing Conference in the Nation

Houston, Texas-January 30th,
2014-The nation's leading
LGBT Latino advocates will convene in Houston for the second annual Unión=Fuerza
Latino Institute, brought together by community partners Lambda Legal, LULAC,
GLAAD, The Translatina Coalition, Latino GLBT History Project, GALEI, among
others. This will take place during the largest LGBT organizing conference,
Creating Change, convened by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

Now more than
ever, advocates feel the need to strategize to push for the passage of
immigration reform, ENDA, marriage equality, anti-hate crimes legislation and
other local, national and international issues that impact the various LGBT
Latino communities throughout the country. The day-long bilingual convening
will provide skills trainings and spaces to foster strategic relationships to
collectively advance equality for LGBT and Latino communities. Sign-up for Latino
Institute updates here or
go to www.UnionFuerza.org.

"While we’re
making progress on LGBT issues across the country, our work is far from over.
Equality doesn’t always trickle down evenly to all communities. Latino
communities, especially those that are more Spanish speaking dominant, have
lacked access to much LGBT education, research, organizing campaigns,
opportunities and resources. Our needs are not always articulated, let alone
recognized and met. That’s why coming together at the Latino Institute gives us
an opportunity to work hard so that the promise of equality reaches more of our
families and communities."-Francisco
Dueñas, Lambda Legal.

"The Task Force is excited to host the second
annual convening of Latino LGBT advocates at our upcoming conference in Houston
this year. The National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change is
the largest gathering of leaders, activists and organizers in the LGBT movement."-Russell Roybal, National Gay and Lesbian
Task Force Deputy Executive Director.

"As the demographic shift continues
to underscore the opportunities and strengths that U.S. Latinos bring to
national policy and action, it is important to ensure that Latino LGBT
communities are included and this gathering at Creating Change is part of the
process. Latino LGBT communities have much to share and contribute as
they always have since the beginning of U.S. LGBT liberation movements and we
have to make sure that those contributions are recognized, developed and
documented in the halls of history."-David
M. Pérez, League of United Latin American Citizens Director of Development and
Latino GLBT History Project President.

"The time to
re-invigorate our Latino LGBTQ movement is now! The U.S. LGBT community
has achieved marriage equality, serving in the military openly, greater social
acceptance, and media visibility. U.S. LGBT Latinos need to come together
to figure out how to collectively overcome barriers like racism, resource
deficits that hinder progress toward achieving economic justice and immigration
reform among other issues."-Letitia
Gomez, longtime activist

"I am happy to
be a part of the Latino Institute, Union=Fuerza taking place in Houston this
year as part of Creating Change. I attended last year and was moved to be
in a room of other queer Latinos. I reconnected with old friends, met new
friends, and deepened my passion for this work. We need a diversity of voices
from all parts of the Latino LGBT community to unite and call for comprehensive
and humane immigration reform, economic justice, marriage equality and the
other issues that our communities care about."- Elicia Gonzalez, GALAEI Executive Director